Ratchet wrench



July 1, 1930 E. B. NOWOSIELSKI 1,769,070

RATCHET WRENCH Fil ed Sept. 9, 1926 diam,

A ME! Patented} duty 1', 1930 I 7 v un te TATES ELECTRICAL COMPANY, or NEWARK, New JERSEY U 1 Application filed September 9, 1926 Serial No. 134,366.

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet wrenches, and is especially adapted for the heaviest or hardest kind of service to which a. wrench. of this character may be 7 5 put, and therefore the principal object of my invention is to provide a ratchet wrench, which will stand hard usage, yet onethat is relatively simple in its construction and not expensive to manufacture. My invention will best be understood by reference to the attached drawing wherein Figurel, is a plan view of the complete ratchet device, 5 1

Figure 2, is a side View of Figure 1, Y '15 Figure 3, is a part verticalsection through the device, f

Figure 4, is. similar to Figure 3 but showing a different formof holding and positioning means, while i I I I F'gure 5,,is a further modified form of the holding and; positioning means. In the difiererit views wherein like nume bers'refer to the same parts, 1 is the body portion of a ratchet'wrench having an in- 25 tegral shank 2, all preferably made asa drop forging; the body portion: 1, is preferably cylindrical in shapeup to the'point where it terminates in the shank. The body portion 1, preferably has a pair of flat substan- '3.0 tiallyparallel sides 3and 4:, which may be,

' as illustrated, somewhat lessin thickness than-the diameter of the shank 2.- The body portion 1', 'has a circular hole bounded by the line 5, passing through from the face 3, to

. 3. the'fac'e 4. Adjacent to the hole 5, and preferably centrally-disposed between the faces 53 and 4,,is an annular groove 6. V In the body 1, extending; from the hole'5, towardfthe shank '2-,is aslot 7 and positioned inthe slot '7, is a pawl 8, held in'p'osition by a plunger 9,

' having an end 10, which entersa hole in the pawl 8. The plunger 9 is presumably held againstthe pawl by-a spring 11, the tension of which may be adjusted by a screw 12,

45 which is threaded intoa bore in the shank2. The outer port-ionof this bore in the shank 2, represented by the dotted line 18, Figure 1, is adapted to receive a lever for operating the ratchet device.

.50 Rotatably positioned within the hole 5, is

a ratchet wheel 14;, which is in thicknesssubstantially the same as the distance between the faces 3 and 4, so thatthe ratchet wheel is practically flush with these faces, when in operative position. The overall diameter of the ratchet wheel'l l, is such that there is; an operating clearance between the teeth and I the edge of the hole 5, whereby some support for the ratchet wheel 14, maybe obtained from the body 1. The wheel '1 has an an nular groove 15, positioned, so as to cooperate withthe groove 6, in the body 1, and positioned within the two grooves 6 and 15, is a suitable number of rotatable or movable members 16. -In the form shown in Figure 3, these rotatable members 16,ar e in the shape of cylindrical rollers, which, are" preferably of hard material, or having hardened surfaces. In the form shown in Figure 4,,the

rotatablemembers'16 are shown as balls. ,In I

either case these rotatable members will feed into the grooves 6 and 15 through the medium of the slot 7,,before the pawl 8, is put into two for example, the strength at this point is increased fourtimes, the strengthbeing increased as the square of the numberof teeth on the pawl.

It will be observed that with respect Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, that the body and. shank portions of the ratchet are integral de-.

vices, and that the only screw used. inthe whole arrangement 1s one which is desig- EDWARD 3.. no'wosinnsxr, or nnooivrrinnn, NEW JERSEY, assrenoii 'rosrtirnonr g nated by the number 12, and adjustably holding the pawl 8 in position.

While I prefer-either of shown in Figures 3 and i for supporting and positioning the ratchet member 14, it is tobe understood that the ratchet wheel may be held in place by other means such as a suitable number. of positioning members, il-

lustrated by the screwsl'? in Figure 5, which has an end 18 fitting within the groove in the ratchet wheel. It may be noted that the the arrangements a ratchet wheel ll, is preferablyprovided with i a polygonally shaped hole to receive the end of a sock'etwrench, it being understood that.

various sizesof socket members may be used, all having a shank to fit the hole 19, whereby the ratchetdevice' will operate various sizes of socket wrenches.

Other details may also be varied without departing from 'the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1; In a device of the class described, a body portion having a shank, said body portion having a circular hole therethrough and an annular groove opening into said hole, a

. ratchet wheel to fit within said hole, said J therein to pass said holding and positioning means and means carried'within the shank to resiliently hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a

body portion having a sha'nln'said body portion having a circular hole therethrough and an annular grooveopening into said hole,a ratchet wheel to fit within said hole,'said ratchet wheel having means for attaching a wrench and having an annular groove in alignment 'withthe groove in said body portion, anti-friction devices fitting within both said grooves to hold and assist in positioning the ratchet wheel in operative position,

said body portion having a slot extending from the edge of the hole toward the shank a pawl positioned in said slot, said pawl having a groove therein to pass said anti-friction devices as the body turnswith respect to the ratchet wheel, a spring pressed plunger carried by the shank for holding the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel and adjustable means for holding the spring and plunger in position.

3. In a device of the class described, a

body portion having a shank, said body portionhaving a circular hole therethrough and an annular groove opening into said'hole, a ratchet wheel to fit within said hole, said ratchet wheel having means for attaching a wrench and having a double row of teeth spaced by a groove so disposed as to be in alignment with the groove in said body portion when the ratchet wheel is in working position said hole, rotatable devices loosely positioned'in both of said grooves to hold and assist in positioning the ratchet wheel in op erative position, said body portion having a slot extending from the edge of the hole to ward the shank, a pawl positioned in said slot,

saidpawl having a groove therein to pass said rotatable devices as the body turns with respect tothe ratchet wheel, a spring pressed plunger carried by the shank for holding the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel and adjustable means for holding the spring and plunger in position.

4. In a device of the class described, a body portion having a shank, said body portion having a circular hole therethrough and an annular groove opening into said hole, a

ratchet wheel to fit within said hole, said ratchetjwheel having means for attaching a wrenchand having an annular groove in alignment with the groove in said body portion, means fitting within both said grooves to hold and assist in position the ratchet wheel inoperative position, said body portion havinga slot extending from the edge of thehole toward the shank, a pawl positioned in said slot, said pawl having a groove therein to pass said holding and positioning a means and means carried within the shank to resiliently hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel, said pawl having a plurality of teeth for simultaneously engaging a plurality of teeth on the ratchet wheel.

5. A ratchet wrench comprising a one piece body having an integral shank,- said body having a hole therethrough, and an annular groove adjacent the hole and the shankhaving a bore extending through it into the hole, a ratchet wheel having means for attaching a wrench and having a double row of teeth spaced by an annular groove, said ratchetwheel'rotatably fitting within said hole, movable members positioned within both of said grooves for holding the ratchet wheel in position,'a pawl carried by the body and extending toward the shank and a plunger, spring and screw positioned within one end of the bore in the shank for holding the pawl in operative position.

6. A ratchet wrench comprising a one piece body'having an integral shank, said body having a hole therethrough and an annular groove adjacent the hole, and the shank having a'bore extending through it [into the hole, a ratchet wheel having means 'for attaching a wrench and having a'double row of teeth spaced by an annular groove, said ratchet wheel rotatably fitting within said hole, rotatable members positioned within both of said grooves for holding the ratchet wheel in'position, a pawl having a plurality of teeth, carried by the body and extending toward the shank and means mounted within the inner part of the bore in the shank for resiliently holding the pawl in operative position.

V 7. A ratchet wrench comprising a one piece body portion terminating in an integral operating shank, said body having two opposite substantially flat parallel faces and a circularhole extending from one face to 7 the other, and an annular. groove adjacent the hole and centrally disposed between said 7 faces, said shank having a bore of two diameters extending through it'into'the hole,"a ratchet wheel having means for attaching a wrench and havingathickness substantially the same as the distance between said body faces and a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the'hole in the body and also having an annular groove centrally arranged for alignment with the groove in the body, rolling members positioned in both grooves for holding the ratchet wheel in position in the hole, a pawl carried by the body and extending toward the shank and means carried in the shank bore of lesser diameter for resiliently holdingthe pawl in working position against the ratchet wheel. a

8. A ratchet wrench comprising" a one piece body havingan integral shank, said body having a hole therethrough and an annular grooveadjacentthe hole and the shank having a bore extending through it into the hole, a ratchet wheelhaving means for at" taching a wrench and having a double row of teeth spaced by an annular groove said ratchet wheel rotatably fitting within-said hole, rolling memberspositioned within both I of said grooves for holding the ratchet wheel in workingposition, said body having a slot extending from, the hole to the borein the shank, said slot serving two purposes; first, as a means through which said rolling members may be passed into the grooves following the placing of the ratchet wheel within said hole in the body, second, means for holding arpawl; a pawl positioned in said slot and means positioned within said shank bore adjacent the pawl for resiliently holding the pawl in operative position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my'signature.

EDWARD NOWOSIELSKI. 

